Kentucky’s John Calipari has successful hip surgery

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, who limped through last season, underwent successful hip-replacement surgery Friday in Lexington.

The program’s official Twitter account posted about noon that Calipari was “out of hip surgery and recovering.” The tweet continued: “All went well. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers for him.”

The 55-year-old Calipari’s right hip finally gave out this year — he had his left one replaced in 2004, while he was still the coach at Memphis — and he was noticeably hobbled during the Wildcats’ run to the NCAA title game last month. He said the pain made it difficult for him to sleep most of the season.

Even when the run was over, Calipari still had a promotional tour for his book, “Players First,” which is now a New York Times Best Seller. He said he was thankful for the busy schedule, otherwise “I’d think about that last game where we had a chance to win the national title … and then I’d want to jump off a bridge.”

Here’s hoping that isn’t the result now that he finally has some down time.

Calipari told reporters last month that he was under the care of “one of the best hip doctors” and after surgery he planned to “take a month to recuperate and try to get back.”

Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Follow him on Twitter @KyleTucker_CJ.